They still may not be able to pronounce Louis Oosthuizen‘s name but now he can be referred to simply as British Open champion.
The 27-year-old South African, “Shrek” to his friends, ran away from the field at St. Andrews for a seven-shot victory over Lee Westwood, the most in an Open since Tiger Woods won by eight at St. Andrews 10 years ago.
Oosthuizen showed no nerves as he cruised around the Old Course one last time this week after many thought he would come crashing down after taking the 36-hole lead. It was just the second win of his career – his first came in the European Tour’s Andalucia Open earlier this season.
Oosthuizen closed with a 1-under par 71, 16-under par 272 and after he completed the formality by tapping in a par putt on the 18th, his wife Nel-Marie carried their infant daughter Jana out to the green where they embraced and kissed. It wasn’t a great show of emotion but then Oosthuizen played the entire week as calm as anyone.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “After the 12th it was very difficult having such a big lead, keeping my focus. I think I cramped up a bit there on the last putt and couldn’t get myself to hit the ball.”
Westwood, runnerup to Phil Mickelson at this year’s Masters, has now finished either second or third in four of his last five and five of his last 10 majors.
“I know what I’ve got to win. I’ve got to improve. I’ve shown a great deal of consistency but not enough,” he said.
Oosthuizen began the day with a five-shot lead on playing partner Paul Casey and saw that cut to three after a Casey birdie on seven and an Oostuizen bogey on eight. But the South African slammed the door on nine. He answered when Casey drove the green, then ran in a 35-foot putt for eagle to regain a shot and stop the bleeding.
He wrapped things up on 12, where he nearly drove the green and made birdie while Casey drove it into a gorse bush and ended up making triple bogey.
That gave Oosthuizen an eight-shot lead with six holes to play.
Tiger Woods finished another disappointing week, failing to win in his seventh straight event. He closed with an even par 72, 3-under for the tournament, tied for 23rd, 13 shots off the lead.
“I drove it great all week, hit my irons pretty good, and I did not putt well except for the first day,” said Woods, who switched back to his old Scotty Cameron putter today. “I believe I had like nine three-putts for the week, so consequently I’m pretty far down the board.
“If I got something going, I would somehow find a way to stop the momentum. Basically that’s kind of what I did all week.”
They still may not be able to pronounce Louis Oosthuizen‘s name but now he can be referred to simply as British Open champion.
The 27-year-old South African, “Shrek” to his friends, ran away from the field at St. Andrews for a seven-shot victory over Lee Westwood, the most in an Open since Tiger Woods won by eight at St. Andrews 10 years ago.
Oosthuizen showed no nerves as he cruised around the Old Course one last time this week after many thought he would come crashing down after taking the 36-hole lead. It was just the second win of his career – his first came in the European Tour’s Andalucia Open earlier this season.
Oosthuizen closed with a 1-under par 71, 16-under par 272 and after he completed the formality by tapping in a par putt on the 18th, his wife Nel-Marie carried their infant daughter Jana out to the green where they embraced and kissed. It wasn’t a great show of emotion but then Oosthuizen played the entire week as calm as anyone.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “After the 12th it was very difficult having such a big lead, keeping my focus. I think I cramped up a bit there on the last putt and couldn’t get myself to hit the ball.”
Westwood, runnerup to Phil Mickelson at this year’s Masters, has now finished either second or third in four of his last five and five of his last 10 majors.
“I know what I’ve got to win. I’ve got to improve. I’ve shown a great deal of consistency but not enough,” he said.
Oosthuizen began the day with a five-shot lead on playing partner Paul Casey and saw that cut to three after a Casey birdie on seven and an Oostuizen bogey on eight. But the South African slammed the door on nine. He answered when Casey drove the green, then ran in a 35-foot putt for eagle to regain a shot and stop the bleeding.
He wrapped things up on 12, where he nearly drove the green and made birdie while Casey drove it into a gorse bush and ended up making triple bogey.
That gave Oosthuizen an eight-shot lead with six holes to play.
Tiger Woods finished another disappointing week, failing to win in his seventh straight event. He closed with an even par 72, 3-under for the tournament, tied for 23rd, 13 shots off the lead.
“I drove it great all week, hit my irons pretty good, and I did not putt well except for the first day,” said Woods, who switched back to his old Scotty Cameron putter today. “I believe I had like nine three-putts for the week, so consequently I’m pretty far down the board.
“If I got something going, I would somehow find a way to stop the momentum. Basically that’s kind of what I did all week.”
They still may not be able to pronounce Louis Oosthuizen’s name but now he can be referred to simply as British Open champion. The 27-year-old South African, “Shrek” to his friends, ran away from the field at St. Andrews for a seven-shot victory over Lee Westwood, the most in an Open since Tiger Woods won by eight at St. Andrews 10 years ago. Oosthuizen showed no nerves as he cruised around the Old Course one last time this week after many thought he would come crashing down after taking the 36-hole lead. It was just the second win of his career – his first came in the European Tour’s Andalucia Open earlier this season. Oosthuizen closed with a 1-under par 71, 16-under par 272 and after he completed the formality by tapping in a par putt on the 18th, his wife Nel-Marie carried their infant daughter Jana out to the green where they embraced and kissed. It wasn’t a great show of emotion but then Oosthuizen played the entire week as calm as anyone. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “After the 12th it was very difficult having such a big lead, keeping my focus. I think I cramped up a bit there on the last putt and couldn’t get myself to hit the ball.” Westwood, runnerup to Phil Mickelson at this year’s Masters, has now finished either second or third in four of his last five and five of his last 10 majors. “I know what I’ve got to win. I’ve got to improve. I’ve shown a great deal of consistency but not enough,” he said. Oosthuizen began the day with a five-shot lead on playing partner Paul Casey and saw that cut to three after a Casey birdie on seven and an Oostuizen bogey on eight. But the South African slammed the door on nine. He answered when Casey drove the green, then ran in a 35-foot putt for eagle to regain a shot and stop the bleeding. He wrapped things up on 12, where he nearly drove the green and made birdie while Casey drove it into a gorse bush and ended up making triple bogey. That gave Oosthuizen an eight-shot lead with six holes to play. Tiger Woods finished another disappointing week, failing to win in his seventh straight event. He closed with an even par 72, 3-under for the tournament, tied for 23rd, 13 shots off the lead. “I drove it great all week, hit my irons pretty good, and I did not putt well except for the first day,” said Woods, who switched back to his old Scotty Cameron putter today. “I believe I had like nine three-putts for the week, so consequently I’m pretty far down the board. “If I got something going, I would somehow find a way to stop the momentum. Basically that’s kind of what I did all week.” Courtesy of nydailynews.com